Vacuum Dehydration Chamber With Multi-Mode Heating for Even Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dehydration machines require manual removal of condensation, which is tedious and reduces efficiency, and existing methods often take longer to evenly dehydrate both interior and exterior portions of biomass products.
Innovation Solution
A dehydrating apparatus that simultaneously uses microwave energy, infrared thermal energy, and heated air circulation to dehydrate biomass products, controlled by a programmable logic controller to maintain even drying and reduce condensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If microwave and infrared drying methods are used to directly transfer heat energy to the product, then drying speed is improved, but condensation forms on machine parts requiring manual removal
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses heated air circulation to automatically remove condensation from machine parts. The air circulation assembly includes heating elements and fans that create a warm air flow throughout the drying chamber, preventing condensation formation and eliminating the need for manual wiping during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Heated air acts as an intermediary medium between the microwave/infrared heating sources and the condensation removal function. The air circulation system transfers thermal energy to prevent condensation on chamber walls and components, solving the problem without requiring direct contact or manual intervention.
2Manufacturing precision
If microwave energy is used to dehydrate interior portions and infrared energy for exterior portions, then drying effectiveness is improved, but drying time increases due to sequential processing
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines microwave heating, infrared heating, and heated air circulation into a single simultaneous drying process. All three heating methods operate concurrently on the biomass product, allowing interior and exterior portions to be dried at the same time rather than sequentially, thus reducing total drying time while maintaining evenness.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller coordinates all heating assemblies to operate continuously and simultaneously throughout the drying cycle. This continuous multi-mode heating ensures that both interior and exterior portions receive appropriate thermal energy throughout the entire process, eliminating idle time and maintaining constant drying effectiveness.
3Productivity
If multiple heating assemblies operate simultaneously, then drying efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller serves multiple functions by managing microwave generation, infrared heating, heated air circulation, and condensation removal through a single control unit. This centralized control reduces operational complexity despite having multiple heating assemblies, as one device coordinates all functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges control of multiple independent heating assemblies into a unified control system that manages all components simultaneously. The controller integrates microwave, infrared, and air circulation controls, reducing the need for separate control mechanisms and simplifying the overall system architecture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Faster and more uniform drying of biomass products, extending magnetron life, and reducing manual maintenance, with the apparatus capable of creating customized dehydration recipes for optimal results.
Implementation Method 1
The magnetron assembly is electromagnetically coupled to the dehydrating chamber and is operable to transmit microwave energy into the dehydrating chamber
Implementation Method 2
The infrared heating assembly is thermally coupled to the dehydrating chamber and is operable to radiate infrared energy into the dehydrating chamber
Implementation Method 3
The heated air circulation assembly is fluidly coupled to the dehydrating chamber and is operable to circulate heated air within the dehydrating chamber
Implementation Method 4
The vacuum assembly is fluidly coupled to the dehydrating chamber and is operable to reduce the air pressure within the dehydrating chamber
Implementation Method 5
Consequently, the air inside the drying chamber is not directly heated, and water vapour tends to condense inside the machine
Data Source
AI summary
A dehydrating apparatus suitable for dehydrating food and other biomass products comprises a dehydrating chamber, a vacuum assembly, a magnetron assembly, an infrared heating assembly, a heated air circulation assembly, and a controller. The magnetron assembly is electromagnetically coupled to the dehydrating chamber and is operable to transmit microwave energy into the dehydrating chamber. The vacuum assembly is fluidly coupled to the dehydrating chamber and is operable to reduce the air pressure within the dehydrating chamber. The infrared heating assembly is thermally coupled to the dehydrating chamber and is operable to radiate infrared energy into the dehydrating chamber. The heated air circulation assembly is fluidly coupled to the dehydrating chamber and is operable to circulate heated air within the dehydrating chamber. The controller is communicative with and programmed to operate the magnetron assembly, vacuum assembly, infrared heating assembly and heated air circulation assembly to first reduce pressure within the chamber, then simultaneously transmit microwave energy, radiate infrared energy, and circulate heated air inside the dehydrating chamber upon specific dried product drying procedure.